Since 1985, the lawyers at Shapiro & Appleton have dedicated their practice to helping people when they need it most. Our clients are usually down and out after a serious accident, struggling financially, physically, and emotionally. We take pride in advocating for the downtrodden and injured and getting the financial restitution they are owed.

One of the most effective ways to choose a top-notch attorney is by reviewing their professional accolades and awards. Independent, third-party organizations bestow these recognitions and distinctions and symbolize a level of excellence in the profession.

We are very proud of the success we have had in obtaining large settlements, arbitration awards, judgments, and jury verdicts. Our success is based mainly on our experience in courtrooms across Virginia.

Featuring breaking news stories in Virginia, North Caroling and nationwide. Our news stories about accidents, events, injuries, and lawsuits are researched and published by our team of experienced personal injury attorneys and could help you learn more about your personal injury case.

One of the best ways to gauge the quality of a personal injury law firm is the feedback from prior clients. The reviews and testimonials on this page are authentic and unfiltered. We are proud to have served so many people who needed help during a difficult time.

By adapting and being familiar with not only Virginia and North Carolina Courts, but also Courts throughout the Eastern United States, our attorneys have developed a set of skills that can be incredibly useful in every sort of significant personal injury case.

The attorneys with our firm actively engage in continuing legal education seminars in the field of injury law. Our lawyers have also regularly delivered lectures to personal injury lawyers not only in Virginia but at national trial organizations.

To stay on the leading edge of personal injury law, all of the firm's attorneys are active in local, state, and national personal injury trial law organizations. We also retain the services of forensic animators, videographers, and computer specialists to produce compelling evidence that will persuade a jury to award maximum damages.

Drill Bit Left in Patient's Sinus by Oral Surgeon Prompts Lawsuit

The surgeon's office "repeatedly" turned the woman away when she came in to report lingering bleeding, sharp pain, dizziness and numbness in her face.

An MRI performed at a hospital to discover the source of the woman's pain moved the drill bit around inside her sinus cavity. The hospital staff could not know that the drill bit was in her skull.

The drill bit showed up easily on X-rays the oral surgeon's office could have performed at any time during the 11 months in which the drill bit remained inside the woman's head.

An ear, nose and throat surgeon was able to remove the dental drill bit from the woman's sinus cavity, and I wish her a speedy recovery. Her lawsuit raises two important issues for any patient who may suffered as a result of surgical malpractice. Objects left in patients following surgery can cause life-threatening infections, excruciating pain and internal injuries. Surgical teams need to keep an exact inventory of every instrument, sponge and device such as a needle or clamp used during an operation. The doctors, nurses and technicians must count and account for every device they use while performing surgery.

Another problem, if the woman's charges are sustained at trial, is that the oral surgeon and his office staff failed in their duty to provide adequate follow-up care. They appear to have ignored complaints of surgical complications and, therefore, failed to do necessary tests and evaluations to determine if the woman was having surgery-related health problems. This would mean that the surgeon and staff fell far short of the standard of care they had professional, ethical and legal obligations to provide.